Folkestone Residents Demand Urgent Action to Restore & Protect The Leas Sea Views !
Folkestone Residents Demand Urgent Action to Restore & Protect The Leas Sea Views !
The Issue
Petition Launched Wednesday 9th July 2025
We are not asking for donations as we do not need funding.
Folkestone Residents Demand Urgent Action to Restore and Protect The Leas
Local residents and community leaders are calling on Folkestone & Hythe District Council to take immediate, decisive action to halt the long-term neglect of The Leas—Folkestone’s historic cliff-top promenade—and restore the world-class views, public access and environmental stability that generations have cherished.
A Unique Heritage at Risk:
The Leas was created by the Victorians and Edwardians as a destination to showcase Folkestone’s unrivalled vistas of the White Cliffs of Dover, the French coastline, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and the sweeping shingle bay to Dungeness. Over time, its cliff-top promenade, elegant hotels, and public amenities drew visitors from across Britain and Europe.
Today, this heritage is in serious decline.
Views Vanishing Behind Neglect:
Overgrown trees and hedges have almost completely obscured once-uninterrupted views. What was designed as a promenade with panoramic sea views has become, in many places, a walk in the woods. Commemorative benches now look out onto dense foliage rather than the channel.
Landslide Risks and Environmental Degradation:
Invasive pines, sycamores, and holm oaks have spread unchecked along the cliffs. Contrary to the belief that they stabilise the slopes, evidence from landslides along the south coast and in Folkestone shows their shallow surface roots accelerate erosion and slope failure. Mature trees are also exposing boulders and increasing the risk of collapse onto properties below Radnor Cliff.
Access Severely Restricted:
Footpaths to the beach remain closed. The historic Zig Zag Path, now Grade II listed, is at risk from encroaching trees and may soon be shut. The Leas Lift is inoperative, and its refurbishment is undermined by the continued threat of vegetation damaging the cliff face.
Antisocial Behaviour and Safety Concerns:
Illegal drug use, street drinkers, and rough sleeping have taken hold in The Vinery Shelter and near the Leas Cliff Hall. Vehicles routinely exceed speed limits in pedestrian zones, putting residents and visitors at risk.
Negative Impacts on Tourism and Reputation:
Once-prestigious hotels and guesthouses along The Leas have been used for emergency accommodation, leaving many visitors with a negative impression of the area and harming Folkestone’s reputation.
What We Are Calling For
The community is united in demanding that the council:
Restore the Views: Remove overgrown trees and hedges along the entire length of The Leas to bring back the vistas that inspired the promenade’s creation.
Stabilise the Cliffs Responsibly: Replace invasive trees with low-level, indigenous plants that improve biodiversity and genuinely protect the slopes from erosion.
Reopen Access Routes: Prioritise the restoration and protection of the Zig Zag Path and footpaths to the beach. Complete the Leas Lift refurbishment with unobstructed views from the lift cars.
Address Antisocial Behaviour that openly in plain sight blights our Leas Promenade: put an end to street drinking, drug use, and rough sleeping in public shelters and ensure visitor safety.
Reinstate Prestige: Support hotels and businesses along The Leas to offer high-quality accommodation that showcases the area as a premier destination.
Enforce Speed Limits: Uphold the 20mph speed restrictions to protect pedestrians and preserve the promenade’s character.
Remove Remaining Risk Trees: Urgently clear trees implicated in past landslides and prevent further damage to the cliffs, paths, and properties.
A Moment for Leadership
“This is a pivotal moment for Folkestone,” said a community spokesperson. “We cannot stand by while decades of neglect erase our heritage. The Leas was built to inspire and delight. It is our responsibility to safeguard it for future generations.”
Join Us
Residents and supporters are invited to join the campaign to protect and revitalise The Leas. Please sign our petition and remember to check your email to verify your signature.
Together, we can restore The Leas to the place of beauty, pride, and inspiration it was always meant to be.
Organiser
Stephen West
Find us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/746105824775303
The Issue
Petition Launched Wednesday 9th July 2025
We are not asking for donations as we do not need funding.
Folkestone Residents Demand Urgent Action to Restore and Protect The Leas
Local residents and community leaders are calling on Folkestone & Hythe District Council to take immediate, decisive action to halt the long-term neglect of The Leas—Folkestone’s historic cliff-top promenade—and restore the world-class views, public access and environmental stability that generations have cherished.
A Unique Heritage at Risk:
The Leas was created by the Victorians and Edwardians as a destination to showcase Folkestone’s unrivalled vistas of the White Cliffs of Dover, the French coastline, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and the sweeping shingle bay to Dungeness. Over time, its cliff-top promenade, elegant hotels, and public amenities drew visitors from across Britain and Europe.
Today, this heritage is in serious decline.
Views Vanishing Behind Neglect:
Overgrown trees and hedges have almost completely obscured once-uninterrupted views. What was designed as a promenade with panoramic sea views has become, in many places, a walk in the woods. Commemorative benches now look out onto dense foliage rather than the channel.
Landslide Risks and Environmental Degradation:
Invasive pines, sycamores, and holm oaks have spread unchecked along the cliffs. Contrary to the belief that they stabilise the slopes, evidence from landslides along the south coast and in Folkestone shows their shallow surface roots accelerate erosion and slope failure. Mature trees are also exposing boulders and increasing the risk of collapse onto properties below Radnor Cliff.
Access Severely Restricted:
Footpaths to the beach remain closed. The historic Zig Zag Path, now Grade II listed, is at risk from encroaching trees and may soon be shut. The Leas Lift is inoperative, and its refurbishment is undermined by the continued threat of vegetation damaging the cliff face.
Antisocial Behaviour and Safety Concerns:
Illegal drug use, street drinkers, and rough sleeping have taken hold in The Vinery Shelter and near the Leas Cliff Hall. Vehicles routinely exceed speed limits in pedestrian zones, putting residents and visitors at risk.
Negative Impacts on Tourism and Reputation:
Once-prestigious hotels and guesthouses along The Leas have been used for emergency accommodation, leaving many visitors with a negative impression of the area and harming Folkestone’s reputation.
What We Are Calling For
The community is united in demanding that the council:
Restore the Views: Remove overgrown trees and hedges along the entire length of The Leas to bring back the vistas that inspired the promenade’s creation.
Stabilise the Cliffs Responsibly: Replace invasive trees with low-level, indigenous plants that improve biodiversity and genuinely protect the slopes from erosion.
Reopen Access Routes: Prioritise the restoration and protection of the Zig Zag Path and footpaths to the beach. Complete the Leas Lift refurbishment with unobstructed views from the lift cars.
Address Antisocial Behaviour that openly in plain sight blights our Leas Promenade: put an end to street drinking, drug use, and rough sleeping in public shelters and ensure visitor safety.
Reinstate Prestige: Support hotels and businesses along The Leas to offer high-quality accommodation that showcases the area as a premier destination.
Enforce Speed Limits: Uphold the 20mph speed restrictions to protect pedestrians and preserve the promenade’s character.
Remove Remaining Risk Trees: Urgently clear trees implicated in past landslides and prevent further damage to the cliffs, paths, and properties.
A Moment for Leadership
“This is a pivotal moment for Folkestone,” said a community spokesperson. “We cannot stand by while decades of neglect erase our heritage. The Leas was built to inspire and delight. It is our responsibility to safeguard it for future generations.”
Join Us
Residents and supporters are invited to join the campaign to protect and revitalise The Leas. Please sign our petition and remember to check your email to verify your signature.
Together, we can restore The Leas to the place of beauty, pride, and inspiration it was always meant to be.
Organiser
Stephen West
Find us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/746105824775303
Victory
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The Decision Makers
Petition created on 9 July 2025